Absolutely Furious, snooping pupils Options

[skylark]

And I agree with ad_lib - my mum's reaction would have been just a tad stronger than 'I'll have a word', too...why are parents SO reluctant these days to tell a child firmly 'NO'????

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)

I could have hugged one mother once when she told her child off for being naughty in public, and instead of getting into endless rational explanations as some parents do, all she said very firmly when the child asked the first "why" was - "because I'm your mother and I say so" (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hurrah.gif) Result - child behaved with no further fuss.

[Rosemary7391]

Letting kids do what they want does them no favors at all. My Dad had me over his knee a few times when I was younger; and for much less serious things than stealing! It hasn't done me any harm, in fact its done me a lot of good because I now know the difference between right and wrong, something that seems to have got lost in translation with a lot of the people in my year.

[Czerny]

And I agree with ad_lib - my mum's reaction would have been just a tad stronger than 'I'll have a word', too...why are parents SO reluctant these days to tell a child firmly 'NO'????

*keeps GOW hat on*

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I agree, but it may well be that the mother was embarrassed by her child's behaviour and had every intention of telling off her daughters properly as soon as she got off the phone, but didn't want to show her feelings in front of Tasha T. I know that's the sort of reaction my mother would have had (not that I would ever have done anything like that!), and it wouldn't have meant that she didn't have stern words later.

I have a pupil who once borrowed a book without asking whilst waiting in my living room. I know exactly why - it was ever so slightly racey (although was specifically about young teenagers, so was actually very appropriate for her age group) so she would have been too shy to ask. The only problem was I had to return it to the library and thought I'd lost it until it mysteriously reappeared!

I'm obviously not condoning 'nicking stuff', but many children are naturally inquisitive (and not just children!) so I always make sure there's nothing lying around that I wouldn't want people to see.

[dorabella x]

Just a thought - does your desk have a lock?

[tasha.t]

Just a thought - does your desk have a lock?

sadly, no, but it might have a rather large table cloth draped to the floor over it next time!

[maryw]

I remember once (I will never forget (IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) ) two siblings doing their homework in the lounge whilst the 3rd had a piano lesson. After the family had left and teaching was finished for the night we sat down to watch a TV programme and couldn't get the TV to come on. Hubby was becoming more and more irate and there was talk about calling out a TV engineer, when we suddenly twigged that the pupils had been in there earlier. Inspection of the remote revealed the batteries had been turned around so the remote didn't work (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif) I phoned the parents immediately and the next day received a letter of apology and a box of chocolates. But since that day we have never allowed anyone access into our private rooms (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Susie]

I would feel inclined to just say that you feel unable to have the sibling in the room while the other child has her lesson.

And I agree with ad_lib - my mum's reaction would have been just a tad stronger than 'I'll have a word', too...why are parents SO reluctant these days to tell a child firmly 'NO'????

*keeps GOW hat on*

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I think I agree with Cyrilla. I have 2 sets of siblings who come for lessons. The young child in one case is 6 and in the other is 11. In each case once the younger ones have finished their lessons they go out and wait in the car with mum who waits, either because they have to travel quite a distance or because the mum is ecologically minded and doesn't want to use the petrol to do 2 runs from home. The mothers always have something of their own to do, even if it's just reading a magazine.

If that's not possible, could you give the waiting child some theory to do. Back in the dark ages when I was at school, a friend and her sister had piano lessons and while one was waiting for the other, the teacher used to set her some theory to do, even if it was just copying out terms to learn. That might encourage child to ask mother whether she could do something else (like going outside to wait in the car) rather than do the dreaded theory. I remember my friend used to moan about it rather a lot, but I think she knew more theory than me at the time as a result of the enforced theory work!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[notmusimum]

I would feel inclined to just say that you feel unable to have the sibling in the room while the other child has her lesson.

And I agree with ad_lib - my mum's reaction would have been just a tad stronger than 'I'll have a word', too...why are parents SO reluctant these days to tell a child firmly 'NO'????

*keeps GOW hat on*

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

I agree!! Mine would have been stronger too!!

Having said that it reminds me of an incident that occurred at dancing a few years ago.

My daughter had a toy toilet with some stuff in it. The dance teacher wanted to borrow it to come out of the backend of a pantomine camel (don't ask). One of the kids stole it before it was used. Several adults checked the box it was in and it wasn't there. Everyone knew it was missing.

Several months later it reappeared someone put it back in the box when my back was turned.

The Teacher and her Mother were there when it was found and we were all stunned. Must have been a parent that put it back on behalf of their little darling.

[Czerny]

My daughter had a toy toilet with some stuff in it. The dance teacher wanted to borrow it to come out of the backend of a pantomine camel (don't ask). One of the kids stole it before it was used. Several adults checked the box it was in and it wasn't there. Everyone knew it was missing.

Several months later it reappeared someone put it back in the box when my back was turned.

The Teacher and her Mother were there when it was found and we were all stunned. Must have been a parent that put it back on behalf of their little darling.

A toy toilet? The stolen back end of a pantomime camel??? Have I stumbled into a surreality forum by mistake?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

[maryw]

My daughter had a toy toilet with some stuff in it. The dance teacher wanted to borrow it to come out of the backend of a pantomine camel (don't ask). One of the kids stole it before it was used. Several adults checked the box it was in and it wasn't there. Everyone knew it was missing.

Several months later it reappeared someone put it back in the box when my back was turned.

The Teacher and her Mother were there when it was found and we were all stunned. Must have been a parent that put it back on behalf of their little darling.

A toy toilet? The stolen back end of a pantomime camel??? Have I stumbled into a surreality forum by mistake?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[notmusimum]

My daughter had a toy toilet with some stuff in it. The dance teacher wanted to borrow it to come out of the backend of a pantomine camel (don't ask). One of the kids stole it before it was used. Several adults checked the box it was in and it wasn't there. Everyone knew it was missing.

Several months later it reappeared someone put it back in the box when my back was turned.

The Teacher and her Mother were there when it was found and we were all stunned. Must have been a parent that put it back on behalf of their little darling.

A toy toilet? The stolen back end of a pantomime camel??? Have I stumbled into a surreality forum by mistake?! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

It was the stuff in the toilet that was going to be used for the Camel droppings (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) Shows that some people will steal anything including ######!!

[Cyrilla]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[petrat]

And pray tell just who thought that suitably filled loo a suitable toy for a young lady? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[AnnC]

I that it's worth remembering that you are a teacher, not a babysitting service. I've only ever taught one pair of siblings, and they came on different days of the week. If they'd come back to back, I certainly wouldn't have tolerated looking after one while teaching the other. That is not my job, and I think that sometimes, its about time the parents took responsibility for it.

I absolutely agree with this. I had a pair of sisters who came back to back, and it worked because we also did some duet work, but one always brought a book for when the other had their lesson. It worked well, otherwise I would have insisted they came separately. I teach brothers, one of whom sits in the car with parent whilst the other has theirs, apart from, again, duet work. I have one room set aside for teaching, but my private accomodation is just that - private. No exceptions.

[tasha.t]

I that it's worth remembering that you are a teacher, not a babysitting service. I've only ever taught one pair of siblings, and they came on different days of the week. If they'd come back to back, I certainly wouldn't have tolerated looking after one while teaching the other. That is not my job, and I think that sometimes, its about time the parents took responsibility for it.

I absolutely agree with this. I had a pair of sisters who came back to back, and it worked because we also did some duet work, but one always brought a book for when the other had their lesson. It worked well, otherwise I would have insisted they came separately. I teach brothers, one of whom sits in the car with parent whilst the other has theirs, apart from, again, duet work. I have one room set aside for teaching, but my private accomodation is just that - private. No exceptions.

Yes, I have decided that I am going to toughen up now. I was doing it as a favour, the siblings do do duets sometimes and I do leave colouring out. As the day dawns ever closer for their next lesson I am getting more anxious and if the mother is not going to call me then I must bite the bullet and call her. Just trying to build up the courage to suggest she keeps the other sibling with her as they have abused my trust.

Tasha